Automatic automobile lighting system



y 25, 1955 N. E. LA MANTIA 3,185,892

AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 13, 1962 qlt Norman E. LaMant/a IN VEN TOR.

Myrna EM L United States Patent 3 185,892 AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM Norman E. La Mantia, Walpole, Mass. (1041 Kingston Drive, Olean, N.Y.) Filed Sept. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 223,363 6 Claims. (Cl. 315-82) This invention relates to improvements in light controlling systems and more particularly to a light controlling system for vehicles.

It is a primary object of the present invention to pro vide a light controlling system for an automotive vehicle which will respond to external light for energizing the selectively controlled lights under the proper light conditions. Accordingly, the light controlling system of the present invention may be useful as an automatic control for turning the lights on and oif in accordance with daylight or darkness conditions.

The light controlling system of the present invention is particularly useful because of the provision of an over control device capable of disabling the automatic operation of the system when it is desired to rely on selective manual control of the vehicle lights, the over control feature being operative to prevent unnecessary loading of the light responsive device when not in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it Will be observed that the light controlling system of the present invention is associated with the vehicle lighting circuit generally referred to by reference numeral 10 which may include as examples, the head lamp 12 and the tail light 14 which are selectively energized upon positioning of the selector switch 15 to one of the operative positions thereof. Accordingly, the selector switch 15 may be displaced from its off position as illustrated in the drawing to a position in contact with the terminal contact 16 or 18 in order to elfect energization of the lamp 12 or the lamp 14. Power for energizing the lamps is derived from a fixed potential source such as the vehicle battery 20, one terminal of which is shown grounded, the other terminal of which is connected to the fixed contact 22 of a relay switch 24 as well as to the fixed contact 26 of an over control safety switch 28. Accordingly, upon closing of either the switch 24 or the switch 28, a circuit will be established through one of the lamps 12 or 14 depending upon the position of the selector switch 15. The vehicle battery as is usual, may be charged by the vehicle generator 34 through the voltage regulator 21.

Closing and opening of the relay switch 24 for automatic control of the vehicle lighting circuit 10 is effected by means of the power relay coil 30. The power relay coil 30 is connected in series with a voltage dividing potentiometer 32 to the output of the vehicle generator 34. Also connected to the output of the generator 34, in parallel relation to the power relay coil 30, is a photo resistive cell 36. It will therefore be appreciated that the voltage dividing potentiometer will control the response of the relay 30 to the photo sensitive resistive cell 36 in accordance with the setting of the potentiometer arm 38 on the sensitivity resistor 40, the potentiometer arm 38 being connected to the output of the generator through an overload protective resistor 42. Also the potentiometer arm 38 is ganged with the overload safety switch 28 as shown by dotted lines 44 so that upon closing of the switch 28, the potentiometer arm 38 will be displaced to a limit position thereof introducing the maximum re- Patented May 25, 1965 sistance of the resistor in series with the photo cell 36 or relay coil 30 in order to reduce to a minimum, the voltage applied to the cell 30 by the generator.

From the foregoing description operation of the lighting system will become apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that when the overcontrol switch is open, and the vehicle engine is in operating condition so as to produce a source of potential through the generator 34, a potential will be applied to the relay coil 30 and photo cell 36 of a value dependent upon the setting of the potentiometer 32. When the light conditions external to the vehicle are such as to require illumination by the vehicle lights, the resistivity of the cell 36 will be relatively high so as to produce a flow of energizing current through the power relay 30 causing the relay switch 24 to close thereby connecting the battery source of potential 20 to the vehicle lighting circuit 10 when the selector 15 is in an operative position. On the other hand, should light conditions external to the vehicle change, causing a reduction in the resistivity of the photo cell 36, the increased flow of current therethrough would reduce the current flow through the relay coil 30 so as to cause the de-energization thereof and opening of the relay switch 24. The vehicle light will accordingly be extinguished. Also, damage of the cell 36, from excessive current when resistance of 40 is at a minimum, will be avoided by the presence of the overload resistor 42.

The sensitivity or response of the photo cell 36 may be varied in accordance with the setting of the potentiometer device 32. It will be appreciated, of course, that when the potentiometer device is set at its extreme position introducing the maximum resistance of the sensitivity resistor 40, the current flow through the photocell will be of a reduced value. Accordingly, the potentiometer device 32 is set to this limit position when the over control switch 28 is closed in order to prolong the life of the photo cell unit 36 by reducing the voltage applied thereto when not in use. Upon closing of the switch 28, the bypassing conductive path will be established from the battery 20 to the lighting circuit 10 through the selector 51. Accordingly, the switch 28 will be useful so as to condition the light controlling system for non-automatic operation when desired. It will also be appreciated that automatic operation of the light controlling system will be available only when the vehicle is in operation in view of the use of the vehicle generator 34 as the potential source for relay energization.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Fulther, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with selectively controlled illuminating means for a vehicle having a source of potential, a light controlling system comprising relay means operatively connected to said source of potential for energization thereby, light sensing resistance means operatively connected to said source in parallel relation to the relay means for controlling energization thereof in accordance with light conditions externally of said vehicle, sensitivity control means operatively connected to said source in series relation to the relay means for varying the response of the relay means to the light sensing resistance means, selective control means operatively connected to said relay means for selectively rendering the illuminating means operative in response to energization of the relay means, and overcontrol means operatively connected to said senmi! sitivity control means and illuminating means to simultaneously energize the illuminating means independently of the relay means and reduce the voltage applied to the light sensing means to a minimum.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said overcontrol means comprises a relay bypass switch ganged with said sensitivity control means for movement thereof to a limit position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sensitivity control means comprises a voltage dividing potentiometer.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said source of potential includes a vehicle generator and a vehicle battery.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensitivity control means comprises a voltage dividing potentiometer.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said source of potential includes a vehicle generator and a vehicle battery.

No references cited.

GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. GALVIN, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR A VEHICLE HAVING A SOURCE OF POTENTIAL, A LIGHT CONTROLLING SYSTEM COMPRISING RELAY MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE OF POTENTIAL FOR ENERGIZATION THEREBY, LIGHT SENSING RESISTANCE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE RELAY MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ENERGIZATION THEREOF IN ACCORDANCE WITH LIGHT CONDITIONS EXTERNALLY OF SAID VEHICLE, SENSITIVITY CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE IN SERIES RELATION TO THE RELAY MEANS FOR VARYING THE RESPONSE OF THE RELAY MEANS TO THE LIGHT SENSING RESISTANCE MEANS SELECTIVE CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RELAY 